“I’ll have to find another job. I won’t be able to support my kids anymore working minimum wage. It’s just not doable.”
Brittany Jones is a server at Uccello’s Restaurant in Caledonia and was one of about 50 restaurant employees and managers who came to Grand Rapids to discuss with state representatives what would happen if Michigan’s minimum wage is increased but tip credit is phased out. Her manager, Spencer Potter, agrees.
“It is that domino effect because we’re going to have to raise our prices anywhere between 25 to 50% just to pay for these wage rate increases.”
The Michigan Supreme Court recently ruled on a case that would result in the repeal of Michigan’s existing minimum wage effective February 21, 2025.
This new law would increase the minimum wage and phase out the tip credit, where an employer can pay a restaurant worker less than minimum wage as long as that worker makes enough in tips to bring them over the minimum wage.
These workers say that, should such legislation pass, 1 in 5 restaurants would close, and 40-60,000 restaurant jobs would be lost.
“Almost every single server, every single waitstaff that I’ve talked to, they want to continue the status quo. They want to continue making those tips to make a lot more money than what they’re going to make on minimum wage.”
West Michigan Republican State Representative Patrick Outman was one of a handful of officials who came to Grand Rapids to speak with workers.
“It was really heartwarming to hear their stories and it really lit a fire under me to get back to Lansing and to address this issue.”
Workers are planning on gathering at the state capitol on September 18th.
